Congress and Interest Groups

For next time: "Making Deals in Congress" (Canvas)

Questions on the assignment?

Role selection

And for the weekly write-up, draw on Davidson to describe your simulation senator's approach to legislating.  What kinds of bills are your going to support or oppose?

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What is lobbying?

• Lobby numbers
• Deregistration and The "Daschle Loophole" 
• A graphic

Interest group ratings (375-76)

• LCV
• NTU

WHY WAS THE NRA POWERFUL? IT IS NOT THE PAC CONTRIBUTION (Note that NRA has gotten weaker)

• Always think about the grassroots. How many households have guns?

How many Americans are economically dependent on fossil fuels? The industry itself and industries that depend on fossil fuels

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Think tanks and Consultants

Recognition and awards

Philanthropy

• Politicians' charities and government relations
• Rent-a-friend as deep lobbying
• Lobbyist cites letter that he ghost-wrote!
• A summary

 Foreign lobbying (pp. 393-394)

• Canadian efforts right now
• Butina (and a postscript)
• Qatar and think tanks